Whether you are looking for a mat to avoid your machine slipping or need some accessible storage, this sewing caddy is perfect for any sewing room! It’s easy to make and will leave you feeling organized and ready to sew.

Back to school is sneaking upon us! Some kids are entering University and might be heading off to dormitories. We can only hope they will do their laundry at least once a month and not drag it home every holiday for mom to do. Create this simple and cute laundry bag for them to set-up in their new home and cross-your fingers it gets emptied!

4. Adhere pieces to the alpaca using Heat n Bond Ultra or a hot glue gun.

Step 5

5. Embroider the eyes and mouth using a satin stitch and backstitch. Glue on pompom trim around the neck and set the rest aside.

Step 6

6. Following the instructions of the Heat n Bond Ultra, adhere the alpaca to the right side of the fabric with the interfacing 3″ down from the top and centered.

Step 7

7. Fold the outer bag in half lengthwise to mark the centre. Pin the elastic in a loop on the top above the alpaca on the right side and baste. The elastic needs to be long enough to wrap around your button.

Step 8

8. Fold the piece up with right sides together and stitch up the side seams.

Step 9

9. With the right sides still together pull the bag apart at the corners until the bottom of the bag looks like a diamond. Mark a line 2″ up from each point and sew across perpendicular. Stitch across this line and trim.

Step 10

10a. Repeat steps 8 & 9 with the lining piece.

10b. Place the bags right side together and stitch across, leaving a small opening to turn inside out. Make sure you stitch down the elastic at this point.

It’s beach season! There are so many hidden delights in Western Canada that are often forgotten or taken for granted. B.C. is blessed with ocean access but also beautiful forests that often lead to lakes. Not to mention the beauty of the Shuswap! The run-off from the mountains needs to go somewhere and Alberta is full of beautiful lakes. From Sylvan lake to lake Minnewanka we are only a short drive away from a beach day! Although Saskatchewan is known for their Prairies they are still able to enjoy a beach day at little Manitou lake or even lake Athabasca. Be sure to throw in some fishing rods with these visits. Manitoba is home to Canada’s 13th largest lake, Lake Manitoba and is full of little cottages among the bodies of water.

Okay, so maybe a Canadian beach isn’t quite the same as a Mexico beach but they are beautiful, and still require a beach bag!